- Name: Dennis Tessier
- Age: 39
- Current location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Home town: Orillia, Ontario
- Education: BA in International and Comparative Studies, MA Development Studies from University of Dar es Salaam
- Current position: Co-Founder and Programs Director, ARTI Energy Limited, Appropriate Rural Technology Institute & Charcoal Briquettes Limited
- Organization description: ARTI Energy Limited and Charcoal Briquettes Limited are social enterprises which operate in East Africa focusing on clean or renewable energy products – biogas, charcoal briquettes, cookstoves and solar lights.
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Bio: Dennis was born in North Bay, Ontario, but grew up in Orillia Ontario where his father moved for work. In his early 20s, Dennis went on a quest to discover his roots, and learned about his Metis ancestry. He is now recognized as a member of the Algonquians of Mattawa.
While he struggled to stay motivated in school, joining the Katimavik program after graduation, spending a year in Europe, and joining Canada World Youth ignited his passion and direction. He went on to achieve an honours degree from Huron University College, and then took up an opportunity to pursue a Masters in Tanzania. Dennis fell in love with East Africa and decided to stay. Before starting ARTI Energy, he worked as a consultant for international NGOs such as the Aga Khan Foundation, and was a CUSO volunteer in a local charity dealing with HIV/AIDs and orphans. In 2007 he started a non-profit company called Appropriate Rural Technology Institute Tanzania (ARTI) with a partner originally from Pune, India. Dennis and his business partner were “opposites on so many levels, but we gelled and ARTI grew.” We focused on clean or renewable energy products – biogas, charcoal briquettes, cookstoves and solar lights. ARTI spun a second, commercial, company called ARTI Energy in 2011 and a Charcoal Briquettes Tanzania Limited (CBTL) in 2014. Dennis is currently working on advising on policy to promote renewable energy, and supporting new entrepreneurs entering this field. - Countries I've worked in: Canada, Tunisia, Honduras, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, Zambia
- Sector / subsectors: International business, Entrepreneurship, Social Enterprise
- Areas of expertise: Renewable Energy, solar, cookstoves, biomass, biogas, business in East Africa, project development and management, youth livelihoods and entrepreneurship, SMEs, poverty and resource management.
- Country: Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia
- Region: Africa
- Sector: Business, Environmental, International development
- Degree subject: International development
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Tell us about yourself and your business, ARTI Energy.
Hailing from Orillia, ON, Dennis Tessier takes off for Dar es Salaam,Tanzania to pursue a masters in international development where he finds no shortage of opportunities to build a career as a social entrepreneur. He now manages three social enterprises in the renewable energy sector that light up rural schools, save fuel costs, and prevent inhalation of dangerous smoke from traditional cooking methods.
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Tell us about a week in the life of a social entrepreneur in Tanzania.
Dennis employs 40 people and admits there is a lot of admin, but he loves joining the sales teams spread across Tanzania, Zambia, Kenya, Malawi and Burundi, as they show communities the life changing benefits of solar energy and clean cookstoves.
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Can you share some of the highlights of living abroad?
Dennis shares the exhilarating moments of his work - witnessing the first child be born in modern lighting in a rural clinic in Tanzania, turning the lights on in a community after installing a microgrid to 120 houses, a hospital and schools.
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What are some of the challenges of living abroad?
From driving, taking local transport, finding information on taxis to tax returns to how you engage people, Dennis describes the need to learn the system and adapt to the local context - your life may depend on it!
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What are some of the trends that you've observed in the social enterprise space, and what are some of the criticisms?
Social enterprise as a trend has only been around for a decade. Dennis shares how he saw NGOs jumping on the social enterprise bandwagon without a real business model, and his excitement about a new generation of social entrepreneurs.
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What sort of abilities and qualities makes a successful social entrepreneur?
Overcome your fears and immerse yourself in the community to understand what makes people tick, then plant the seeds for success.
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What sort of market opportunities do you see for social entrepreneurs?
GO! Dennis shares his advice for those interested in social entrepreneurship abroad.
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Do you need a business degree or background to break into the space?
According to Dennis, entrepreneurs are made and not taught.
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What sort of tangible first steps would you recommend to a new grad or someone early in their career who wants to get to where you are?
Get clear about what you want, do your research, share your vision, and volunteer. Dennis shares his advice on gaining traction in a meaningful international career.
